Deluxe Tour du Mont-Blanc Self-Guided

Arrive in Geneva, and transfer to Chamonix, the world-famous resort and trail running epicenter in France. A private airport pickup is included, making this an easy and relaxing hour-and-a-half journey. Enjoy your first impressive views of Mont Blanc, with time to relax in the hotel spa before dinner at a restaurant of your choice – recommendations will be provided.

Before setting forth to run the Tour du Mont-Blanc, you’ll enjoy a warm-up day on a few of the many excellent trails in the Chamonix valley. You’ll run one of Chamonix’s dramatic “balconies,” with big views of the glaciers of Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles Rouges National Nature Reserve. There’ll be time to relax at the hotel spa before dinner at another restaurant of your choosing in Chamonix.

Setting off on the Tour du Mont-Blanc, undulating trails lead you up to alpine pastures and pine forests, over the dramatic Tricot pass and through the quiet and quaint Miage valley on one of the prettiest corners of the tour. Passing through a tiny hamlet of stone houses where cows and horses graze peacefully surrounded by hanging glaciers, you’ll run to the village of Les Contamines. From there, you’ll take a quick taxi ride to the incredible 5-star Hotel Armencette. Tonight, you’ll be able to enjoy gourmet dining at the hotel restaurant or at their bistro across the street.

Following an old Roman trail, you’ll continue the tour with a long, steady ascent across two lofty passes, Col de la Croix du Bonhomme and Col du Bonhomme. After refueling at a high mountain hut near the pass, you’ll descend into the Vallée de Glaciers. Instead of staying in a dorm room in the more basic accommodations that exist along the trail here, you’ll take a taxi to the nearby town of Boug-St-Maurice for a comfortable night in a hotel. Included in our recommendations for dinner tonight is a small family-run restaurant tucked-away just outside of town that uses innovative cooking methods with local ingredients.

You’ll start the day with a private taxi to the trailhead. Then, leaving France, a gradual ascent through quiet alp pastures will lead you to the Col de la Seigne and into Italy. Here you’ll be greeted by a vast vista of the Veny valley and the Mont Blanc range. The rocky, triangular Aiguille Noire de Peuterey is particularly impressive from this vantage point, and Mont Blanc itself dominates the view ahead. 

You’ll continue down the valley and into the medieval village of Dolonne, with narrow, cobblestoned alleyways that lead you across the river and into lively, pedestrian-friendly Courmayeur, where you’ll spend the night and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant – recommendations provided.

After a comfortable, five-star night, you’ll enjoy a second day in Courmayeur, giving you a chance to rest and soak in the hot spring spa at nearby Pré Saint Didier or relax at the hotel, making use of the spa, scheduling a massage, relaxing at the private outdoor pool, or making use of many other comforting touches.

For those who want to run, the area around Courmayeur is filled with beautiful, quiet single track and huts serving delicious treats, cappuccino, and wine! We will provide you route options.

Courmayeur is a pedestrian-friendly, atmospheric village with bakeries, gelaterias, and no shortage of sidewalk cafes. It’s great for people-watching as you pass a leisurely day. If you feel like taking in the view, the nearby Helbronner Skyway cable car ascends high above the valley to the upper reaches of Mont Blanc– Monte Bianco in Italian– for close-up views of some of the highest peaks in the Alps. Dinner will be of your choosing again tonight.

Today, you’ll say goodbye to Courmayeur, and head up to Rifugio Bertone, overlooking Courmayeur, far below. From there, you’ll run some of the best single track trails on the tour, stopping at the famous Rifugio Bonatti.

After the break, it’s time to tackle the ascent of Grand Col Ferret, the highest point on the trip, on the Italian-Swiss border. From here, you’ll run beautiful, rolling green single track filled with contented cows. You’ll then descend to the tranquil village of La Fouly and settle in for a quiet night in a more simple, rustic hotel at the end of Switzerland’s Val Ferret where dinner is included.

Note: If you’d like, you can continue 15km (9mi) with 520m (1710ft) ascent / 660m (2170ft) descent to Champex-Lac – either by foot, bus or by booking a taxi – where you’ll have the option to upgrade your accommodation to the 5* Au Club Alpin. Please let us know if that is of interest when booking.

Today’s run leads us along the Ferret river and through quiet Alp hamlets, finally climbing to the pretty lakeside village of Champex-Lac, where you’ll enjoy a lunch break. Next, it’s through woods and meadows and past farms, as we climb with views of Switzerland’s Rhône valley and the historic city of Martigny, far below. You’ll enjoy a break at a high mountain café before descending to the nearby hamlet of Trient. Here, you’ll take a short taxi ride to our 4-star hotel in Argentière and be able to enjoy dinner at one of the many great restaurants in Chamonix. 

An optional Swiss PostBus to Champex is available if you end up wanting to shorten the day.

You’ll head back to Trient to start your last day running around Mont Blanc. You begin with a climb to the Col de Balme pass on the border with France. You’ll enjoy gorgeous views of Mont Blanc and the entire Chamonix valley as you cross the pass and descend to the village of Le Tour. You’ll finish with a run through the Chamonix valley, with the option to hop on a bus or train for the ride back to town, where you’ll be able to enjoy a delicious celebratory dinner at another restaurant of your choosing.

Today you’ll say “au revoir” to the Tour du Mont-Blanc and the Vallée du Trail, and depart for your post-Mont Blanc destinations. A private shuttle can be arranged to take you to the Geneva Airport.